Acting Stars and Celebrity Chefs Back Hospice Campaign

29th August 2024

Two of the region’s biggest names in acting, Adrian Lester and Dame Julie Walters are leading a growing list of names in support of an urgent campaign from Acorns Children’s Hospice.

The campaign, Children’s Care Matters, is calling on the Government to safeguard the Children’s Hospice Grant – a vital £2 million funding stream for Acorns, which the charity needs to continue providing its care to hundreds of local children.

Public support for the campaign has been increasing, with a petition to save the Grant reaching more than 8,000 signatures in just four weeks. Acorns will be delivering a batch of signatures to 10 Downing Street next week (4th September) with a letter to the Health Secretary, Wes Streeting.

Birmingham born Adrian Lester and Dame Julie have joined a number of leading names, including multiple award-winning restaurateur Aktar Islam and TikTok star, Poppy O’Toole aka Poppy Cooks, calling on the public to keep signing the petition.

Aktar and Poppy gave their active support to the campaign at a petition gathering event today (29th August) in Paradise Square, Birmingham alongside giant orange HELP letters.

Dame Julie, said: “For families going through the most difficult times, the care and emotional support provided by nurses and staff at Acorns is crucial. It makes all the difference in the world, allowing families to focus on cherishing moments of joy and love knowing they are in safe hands.

“All children’s hospices are under threat from the loss of the Children’s Hospice Grant, so I hope everyone signs the petition to help protect these wonderful places.”

Award-winning actor and director, Adrian Lester CBE is a staunch advocate for his home city of Birmingham. Known by TV audiences for his role as Mickey Bricks in the long-running BBC drama Hustle and range of roles in both Hollywood and on stage.

He said: ”How are we supposed to look after our hopes for the future if we don’t take care of our vulnerable children. The essential work Acorns Children’s Hospice does, must continue. It is a tragedy that organisations like these are starved of funding.”

Aktar Islam whose flagship restaurant Opheem received its second Michelin star in February, said: “I’m well aware of the amazing work Acorns does across the region in the lives of local families.

“The skill, expertise and compassion shown at their three hospices is irreplaceable and the fact they could be faced with turning children away due to lack of funding just doesn’t bear thinking about.

“I’d urge everyone to support this campaign, sign the petition and help safeguard this vital local charity, before it’s too late.”

Double Michelin-starred chef Aktar Islam and TikTok star Poppy O'Toole.

Michelin-trained chef and TikTok star, Poppy O’Toole, author of four cookery books, the latest of which is due to be published this year, said: “Come on everybody, join me in signing this petition to save the grant and protect the amazing Acorns Children’s Hospice.

“It’s a wonderful organisation that helps children and their families and brings a lot of happiness and joy even when things are tough. They need you and me and everyone to sign their petition so that they can carry on doing their incredible work”.

The future of the Children’s Hospice Grant, a central NHS England funding stream is uncertain, meaning Acorns and many children’s hospices nationally, may be forced to cut vital services for life limited children and their families.

To raise awareness of the campaign, staff and volunteers from Acorns have been taking giant orange “HELP!” letters on tour around well-known West Midlands landmarks and asking the public to add their name to the petition.

Trevor Johnson, Acorns Chief Executive, said: “We are overwhelmed by the support we’ve received so far for this important campaign and I’m delighted that Adrian, Dame Julie, Aktar, Poppy and so many others have understood the urgency of the situation and given their backing.

“This support will help raise awareness of the hundreds of local children with serious and life limiting conditions who rely on Acorns, and who without this Grant risk losing the care they desperately need.

“I appeal to everyone: keep signing and sharing our petition. Every voice counts, and together we can ensure that Acorns and every organisation like ours can continue to offer vital care to those who need it most.”

Dame Julie has supported Acorns in the past and in 2019, when the charity’s Walsall hospice was under threat of closure, helped rally the community. The appeal won huge support and the Walsall hospice continues to support hundreds of families in the Black Country today.

The Children’s Hospice Grant is a national £25 million NHS grant, distributed to children’s hospices across England. It makes up around 13% of Acorns income, a total of £2 million.

For Acorns to continue, the vast majority of the remaining income the charity needs comes from fundraising and profits from charity shops.

In the past year, the charity has cared for more than 750 children across the West Midlands, and supported almost 1,000 families, including those who are bereaved.

This care and support is provided from Acorns three hospices, based in Birmingham, Walsall and Worcester, and in the community.

To find out more about Children’s Care Matters and get involved, visit: www.acorns.org.uk/campaign